eutrophication

Term: eutrophication

Literally meaning: “well-nourished”

Origin: Anc Greek

+ τροφή/trophe(=food, nourishment ) > δρέπω/drepo(=gather)

ευ-/ eu-(=prefix meaning "well”, “good”, “easy”, “right”)

Coined/History

In 1919 Swedish limnologist Einar Christian Leonard Naumann  (1891-1934) introduced into limnology the concepts of oligotrophy (nutrient poor) and eutrophy (nutrient rich).

Definition

Eutrophication is the  process by which an aquatic ecosystem (body of water) is getting rich with inorganic plant nutrients (e.g. nitrate, phosphate) promoting algal blooms which use up all the oxygen in the water, leaving none for other aquatic organisms like fishes.